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Ferrari wants three-car teams 'for the show'

Ferrari would support the idea of three-car teams in Formula One.

Jules Bianchi, Ferrari F14-T Test Driver

Jules Bianchi, Ferrari F14-T Test Driver

XPB Images

Kevin Magnussen, Jenson Button and Stoffel Vandoorne with the McLaren Mercedes MP4-29
Jules Bianchi, Marussia F1 Team with Alexander Rossi, Marussia F1 Team Reserve Driver and Max Chilton, Marussia F1 Team
Pascal Wehrlein
(L to R): Sergio Perez, Sahara Force India F1 with Daniel Juncadella, Sahara Force India F1 Team Test and Reserve Driver and Nico Hulkenberg, Sahara Force India F1 at the launch of the Sahara Force India F1 VJM07
Jules Bianchi, Ferrari Test Driver with the media
Marcus Ericsson, Caterham
Jules Bianchi, Marussia F1 Team MR02 leads team mate Max Chilton, Marussia F1 Team MR02
(L to R): Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W05 and team mate Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W05 battle for position shortly before making contact
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing RB10 and Jean-Eric Vergne, Scuderia Toro Rosso STR9

Sep.21 (GMM) Ferrari has split from the pack and declared its support for three-car teams in Formula One.

Amid rumours up to three or four teams are in financial peril, Bernie Ecclestone said in Singapore that the sport would fill the grid gaps by requiring top teams to move from two to three-car operations as soon as 2015.

The cost would amount to around 32 million euros to have a third car

Toto Wolff

"We'll know after the next two or three races, but it (the three car plan) is being looked at," said the F1 supremo.

Smaller teams would collapse?

It is feared two-decade-old Sauber and backmarker Caterham are the most at risk of collapsing, but Marussia is also in obvious strife and reports of unpaid bills regularly emerge about the Lotus team.

Force India co-owners Vijay Mallya and the jailed Subrata Roy, meanwhile, are also having high-profile financial problems.

We'll be around next year as well

Monisha Kaltenborn

"I have asked them (title sponsor Sahara) if they would like to change the situation and they said no, they want to stay in," Mallya said in Singapore.

"I've always run and managed the team which is doing better than it ever has in its history and we're going forward from here," he insisted.

Also defiant in the face of the rumours is Sauber chief Monisha Kaltenborn, despite admitting Hinwil is grappling with its worst ever season in F1.

"We do get that question often and every time we say 'We'll be around'. I'm going to answer the same way -- we'll be around next year as well," she said.

Caterham also denies shutdown rumours

New Caterham chief Manfredi Ravetto also batted off the rumours, even though he said it is already a struggle "Just trying to keep it (the team) alive" in the wake of Tony Fernandes' mid-season exit.

"Of course we want to be on the grid in Melbourne next year -- that is definitely our goal," he said.

If some teams do ultimately collapse, however, it is possible that three-car teams will be the solution to dwindling grid numbers.

Most team bosses are not keen.

"I hope it never comes to that," said Mallya.

Who would add a third runner?

It is expected that if the three-car solution is triggered by the grid dropping below 20 cars, it is the top teams like Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren that are most likely to add a third runner to their respective garages.

Dominant giant Mercedes, however, is not keen.

"For us, the cost would amount to around 32 million euros to have a third car," Toto Wolff is quoted by Speed Week.

With all due respect, people would prefer to see three more Red Bulls, Ferraris and Mercedes than the other cars

Ferrari spokesperson

His counterpart Eric Boullier, however, said McLaren would "maybe" run a third car "to keep the grid at a decent number".

But Ferrari has made clear it is more than happy with the idea of three cars bearing the fabled Prancing Horse logo running around the calendar next year.

"It's not about the survival of F1," a team spokesman told the Spanish sports daily AS, "but for the show.

"With all due respect, people would prefer to see three more Red Bulls, Ferraris and Mercedes than the other cars," he reportedly added.

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